How to Grow Microgreens

Grow your own super nutition with microgreens.

Microgreens are immature plants grown in soil to be eaten when they are leafy green seedlings. Unlike sprouts, which are embryonic new growth from moistened seeds, microgreens are growing plants drawing their sustenance from light, soil and water. They are harvested 10 days from germination and are more nutritious than their mature plants. Added to salads and sandwiches, used as toppings for baked potatoes and tossed into soups, microgreens offer fresh nutrition that's hard to find in other foods. Add more "green" to your diet by growing microgreens.

Things You'll Need

• Seeds -- broccoli, radish, beet, arugula, cabbage, cucumber, watercress or basil
• Shallow planting containers (plastic seedling trays are ideal)
• Plastic tray lids or plastic wrap
• Light potting soil mix
• Spray bottle
• Sunny location or grow lights

Instructions

1. Fill a tray with 1 inch of soil, smoothing it down but not compacting it. If you are setting up a system to continuously grow microgreens, you can fill several trays for planting seeds now and several to store and use when you're ready to plant the next set of greens.

2. Sprinkle seeds over the soil in the tray, being careful to broadcast them as evenly as possible, and avoid clumping them together. Use a fork to spread out any clusters that are too close together.

3. Sprinkle a very thin layer of soil over the newly sown seeds and lightly tamp it down. For tiny seeds, use a sifter to distribute the soil layer.

4. Spray water on the soil in the newly planted tray, moistening it and the seeds underneath. Cover the tray with a tray cover or plastic wrap.

5. Place the planted tray in a warm place to aid germination and spray the soil every day until the seeds sprout.

6. Move the sprouted tray to a sunny location or under grow lights and remove the cover. Watch the new plants daily, keeping them moist but not waterlogged with a regular watering can instead of the spray bottle.

7. Harvest the greens after they've been growing for about 10 days, with either one or two sets of leaves. Cut them with sharp scissors about 1/2 inch above the soil. Use them immediately or store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with a wet paper towel. Add them to water in ice cube trays to freeze and use later in soups and savory dishes.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay close attention to warmth and water. Overwatering in cool conditions quickly leads to rot or seedling wilt, ruining the whole tray of greens.

• If you want to plant more than one kind of seed, plant each half of the tray with different seeds. With several trays, you can grow many different greens.

References

• "Microgreens: How to Grow Nature's Own Superfood"; Fionna Hill; 2010"Microgreens: How to Grow Nature's Own Superfood"; Fionna Hill; 2010
• "Microgreens: A Guide to Growing Nutrient-Packed Greens"; Eric Franks and Jasmine Richardson; 2009
• "Fresh Food from Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting"; R. J. Ruppenthal; 2008